Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
Even More CW Learning Aids
Feb 21st
As I was watching Paul VA6MPM’s very interesting Zoom presentation about Summits On The Air the evening of February 17, Ken Smith VE6AGR caught my attention by mentioning that CW is commonly used for SOTA and that he is using the internet to practice. What? Another group using CW!
I had made an earlier post to this site about the CWCOM system for practicing Morse Code via the internet, and I am interested what applications Ken is using. I got Paul VA6MPM to ask Ken on my behalf how he is practicing CW on the internet. I have edited Ken’s responding email a little, I hope without destroying his message.
The internet-based learning aid that he mentioned in the Zoom meeting is VBand which allows Practicing sending solo or sending & receiving with a few buddies, on the internet, with no embarrassment of actually transmitting on the air
Find it at https://hamradio.solutions/vband/ . You can make certain keys on your computer mimic a key or paddle but by far the best way to use this site is to buy the optional interface dongle they sell, which enables you to connect a proper iambic paddle to the computer. Some people have trouble with latency, though, so it’s not foolproof.
Other Learning Aids:
Android apps with no data connection required
For listening rather than sending practice:
Morse Machine — good tool for initially learning the characters and main punctuation signs
Morse Mentor – a next step from the above, adds prosigns & generates random-length groups of random characters. Is great for call sign practice, because you don’t get to infer things by anticipating the rest of words. Has Farnsworth timing options as well as the usual adjustable character speeds.
QSOSender3 — generates 2-minute or so messages with content from typical QSO’s – call signs, signal reports, QTH, rig info, 73 & other pleasantries, etc.
Downloadable Windows applications,
no internet connection required to actually use:
G4FON Koch Morse Trainer
Web site resources requiring an internet connection
ARRL Code Practice files (Code Practice Files (arrl.org)) – are great to practice receiving long blocks of actual text from old QST magazines. Various speeds available.
LCWO on-line (https://lcwo.net/) and Rufzxp.net seem to get good reviews in lots of places but Ken hasn’t used them. The latter apparently allows you to inflict noise and interference on yourself to really hone your skills.
Practice sending and receiving anywhere, anytime
Build the code trainer kit from QRP guys: https://qrpguys.com/qrpguys-code-trainer Ken says, “This kit was so easy I even built one and it worked on the first try – which is something I cannot say about ANY of my other pathetic forays into electronics.” Use whatever paddle you like with this tiny keyer kit (great for travel):
Ken wishes us good luck with our CW learning exercises.
Thanks to Ken Smith VE6AGR for all this information!
John VA6SJA
RAC Canada Day Contest
Feb 3rd
I just received this in my in box today!
VE6BLD RAC Canada Day Contest 2020
Winter Field Day Fun VE6BLD
Jan 31st
I spent about 6 hours Sat and Sunday working the Winter Field Day. The bands were good until after 9 Saturday night. I slept in Sunday till 9:30 but managed a lot more contacts till noon.
Here are my results.
51 Sections, 38 States, 222 contacts, 1320 points,
80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 6m, 2m.
I hope to see some more results from others here.
Bob VE6BLD
CW Ops
Jan 27th
I was surprised and delighted to see John’s (VA6SJA) post about CW and that a couple of Hams are looking to improve Morse Code skills. Because of Covid, the last couple of months I have been re-learning Morse as well. Licensed in 1982 I was at one time comfortable at 18-20 wpm. Not having used CW in very many years I also had a desire to get back at it.
I found a site CWops, that has a great training system tailored to all levels of operator skills. You can self train on your own at any time or they have structured classes with interacting instruction (3 times per year, January to March, April) to June, etc) (https://cwops.org/cw-academy/cw-academy-options/) They use the Farnsworth method, which seems to be the standard learning tool these days. There are a large assortment of training/student resources for receiving and transmitting CW (Practice QSO, words, abbreviation text files etc, too many to list here. They also have numerous on air tests “contests” for students. This is a large site with many features. If interested have a look. This is all free, the desire being to promote the use and operation of the CW mode.
When first licensed we had a group of locals in Kelowna that would meet on 10 meters which gave good local coverage (even with a closed band) for practice sending and receiving.
73
Neil VA6AK
VE6WCE Station
Jan 22nd
Ok, so here is my story.
As per frequent requests to post something. I will post my station. Granted it isn’t the most sophisticated station out there, but it works for me.
The pictures you see are my hf/vhf station complete with a CB I had from the 70’s. CB, the cell phone system of the 70’s. I have three radios, Yeasu FT-5000 that I bought as a retirement gift. Yeasu FT-857 that I use primarily for VHF and an old Heathkit HW-101 I bought at a fathers day picnic and it works. I remember dreaming about building and owning that radio in the 70’s as I started to seriously pursue obtaining a licence.
Anyway I also included a picture of my test equipment and parts.
I had always wanted to go digital and as you can see my space is very limited. Then I thought why not just install a keyboard tray and laptop and so I did. Now you can see how I have digital set up. Using Airlink Express software and a SigaLink USB sound card feeding into the Yeasu FT 857 for digital. The SignaLink is sitting just below the FT-857.
I have three antennas. Cushcraft R6000, Diamond X-200 VHF/UHF and a 40m vertical that I can set up if I want to work 40m.
You may notice the antenna analyzer hooked you to the antennas. Before I transmit I always sweep the antenna to ensure nothing has changed. I also use it to tune the antenna as needed so I am not sending out a carrier to annoy anyone and stress out the transmitter finals.
Finally Betty snuck up on me working a station or at least trying to, wasn’t successful that time.
Anyway that is it.
73’s
VE6WCE
CWCOM – Morse Code on the Internet
Jan 19th
The topic of improving Morse Code skills came up on the CAARC net of January 18.
I mentioned an internet system, CWCOM, also known as CW Communicator, as a potential way to practice. It’s not radio, but either is sitting across a table from each other each with our own code practice oscillator. This morning I checked to see if it was still operational, and it is. Gerry, who uses call sign G3MS on this system, is the manager and chief guru of the system. Here is a slightly edited screen shot of a QSO I had with him this afternoon Alberta time over the internet. I didn’t have my key set up at this time, so I keyboarded. The program also allows using the down button on your keyboard as a straight key. I do have the ability to use a key or a paddle with this system, if I could only make them make predictable sounds!
Gerry mentioned his blogsite which is a complete introduction and instruction manual for the CW Communicator program and system. It is at https://morsepower.blogspot.com/2020/01/home-click-page-1.html . You usually have to scroll down past the contents. He mentions a “Contact Me” address, which is below the contents on the page labelled “Home”.
Gerry’s parting comment was “t ~~okjohn~~lookforward toseeing some new callsign”
You would need to download, install and set up the CW Communicator program.
I have had an on-and-off relationship with this system since 2003.
For whoever is interested.
John VA6SJA
Note: Jan 20, 2021 Corrected the call sign Gerry uses.
January vhf contest
Jan 13th
Here is a link for the January vhf contest. Lets get on the air and have some fun and put CAARC on the map and in the logs. http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf
Bill VE6OLD SK
Jan 1st
Hello – I received a phone call this morning from Carole Guthrie with the sad news of Bill VE6OLD’s death. Bill Guthrie was a long time member of CAARC and was very active in club activities until ill health slowed him down. Bill was a fixture at club picnics, serving up SARA dogs with a smile! He always had lots to sell at any of the flea markets and was on the air all the time when he was still working, driving from one job to another. Bill was a past president and one of the founding members of SARA. Bill’s voice will live on, on the VE6REP repeater controller. He will definitely be missed!
Because of Covid restrictions, there will be a small family service. Condolences can be posted on the Wilson’s Funeral Home website on the Tribute wall. Donations maybe made in Bill’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society
Obituary posted for Ian “Bill” William Guthrie. See http://www.wilsonsfuneralchapel.ca/obituary/IanBill-Guthrie
73’s
Sandy Jacobs
CAARC President
